Becoming a Subject Matter Expert

It’s often said becoming a subject matter expert is a great way to become irreplaceable at work. And that may be true, but that doesn’t mean you should neglect honing all the skills for your role.

Though it’s always good to be able to do something well at work, it’s important to be a well-rounded employee. Being able to perform all the roles on your team is arguably just as, if not more, important than being able to do one task exceptionally well, because you can handle almost any project your manager hands you. More specifically, for capacity reasons, if a team member is sick or on vacation, you can step in and get the job done.

Furthermore, an important part of professional development is addressing your weaknesses. Before you begin to build a skill you’re already good at, managers like to see you’re developing skills that aren’t necessarily your strong suit.